Nichola Ashcroft

Profile

Engaging and eloquent with high energy and drive - a talented leader.

Experienced at managing highly skilled, intelligent teams and getting the
very best from them. Nicky speaks with passion and conviction, is determined
and professional and thoroughly committed to delivering the very highest
standards in any role taken on.
This is evidenced in the significant cost savings and performance improvements delivered in each management role held to date.

Individual Reviews/Hearings

Training Review

Disciplinary Hearing

Grievance Hearing

Your business will have appropriate processes to deal with members of staff who have issues, whether with their own performance or with behaviours of others around them in the workplace.

When necessary, the time required to complete these processes properly is often difficult to find without hindering the 'day job' and must necessarily come from the management levels - an expensive cost in hours, business impact and salary. They can also be fraught with issues of conflict of interest and the need for absolute impartiality.

By using an external specialist to complete the review or hearing phases for you, the high cost and business impact elements can be significantly reduced whilst showing your business to have a forward thinking proactive attitude to the needs of your staff and their trade unions. These highly emotive but necessary processes can be completed with the minimum distress, the highest standards and unquestionable impartiality.

Report with recommendations for action tailored to your business structure and viable options (delivered within 1 week of the hearing date).

Business Process Assessments and Proposals

Training Process Review

Crisis Management Process Review

Gain a new and fresh point of view of your business processes from an external specialist and a set of proposals for change or improvement.

Reviewing your own processes and implementing actions for change in each business planning phase can reap huge benefits in your business efficiency. Occasionally however, it can help to have a fresh and unbiased view of these processes and some new ideas for change to reinvigorate your business, staff and environment.

Cost:

The size and detail of your business, along with your specific requirements for the review will dictate the time required to complete assessments and reports.

An initial consultation at £600 takes one full day and includes:

Detailed discussion of your requirements with the individual or team requesting the review.

Time spent in each department/area involved to gain an understanding of the business components and the time required to review each appropriately.

A proposal of works with associated cost breakdown (delivered within 1 week of the consultation date).

Education

BSc Hons

Management and Psychology 2002

A Levels

Maths with Mechanics; Physics; Economics

Training & Certification

WSET - Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits (Distinction) - April 16

WSET - Level 1 Award in Wines - January 15

BTEC - Certificate in Management Studies

Air Traffic Controller's Licence

Aerodrome Control Visual Rating

Aerodrome Control Instrument (Tower) Rating

Approach Control Procedural Rating

Approach Control Surveillance (Radar) Rating

On the Job Training Instructor

Air Traffic Control Examiner

Leadership

17 years experience in management roles progressing to
senior leader level, all within safety critical business evironments. Team
sizes ranging from 5 to 300.

Line Management

Safety Accountabilities

Business Targets
& KPIs

Business Plan Author & Manager at departmental level

Risk Owner and Manager at corporate level

Budget Manager up to
circa £3M

Crisis Team Manager

Security Focal Point for corporate centre

Training

20 years experience in both operational and regulated college environments; delivering one to one live and simulator training from new trainee induction to unit validation and professional training for instructors and examiners. Experienced with new course design and introduction along with regulatory changes and improvements leading to increased pass rates in all areas of delivery.

Management of professional extension training programmes for NATS and external customer experienced controllers.

Consultant on design and implementation of new assessment processes for Heathrow ATC.

Business Continuity / Crisis Management

Developed new business continuity plan for NATS corporate
centre of business integrating it with other site plans to create one
plan/document. Created and rolled out training to NATS corporate site business
continuity 'Silver Team' along with an annual training programme and design
& delivery of two crisis management exercises per year.

Worked with R2 Risk & Resilience Ltd to design and deliver crisis management exercises in 2014 and 2015

Corporate Site
Business Continuity Lead

Business Continuity Plan development

Business Continuity training design and delivery

Crisis Management
exercise design & facilitation

Team member for
design and delivery cross company

Business Risk Owner and Manager

Industrial Relations

9 years experience in the creation and nurture of
excellent Trade Union relationships including training senior leadership teams
cross company alongside TU representatives and executive committee members in
good relationship practices ('Working Together').

Head of Terminal Operations (Temporary)

Birmingham Airport

Providing leadership and direction to the terminal operations delivery team (circa 300 staff) through a direct line management team of 10. Team and areas of responsibility: Central Search Security Team; I.D Centre & Security Training Teams; Soft Services & Contracts Team (including management of all external service providers); Passenger Services Team; Terminal Engineering Team; Fire & Life Safety Systems Team

With customer service being paramount to the everyday operation and company reputation, this role must deliver a perfect balance between the requirement to deliver a safe and secure operation and the need for an impressive customer experience.

Security Focal Point (Operations)

NATS

January 2012 - November 2014 (1 years 8
months) - CTC, Hampshire UK

Part of the NATS wide Security Focal Group, ensuring unit security is not compromised by incorrect processes or staff behaviours. Designing and implementing where necessary, new procedures to ensure the security of the operation whilst not affecting non operational departments.

Business Continuity Unit Lead

NATS

January 2012 - November 2014 (1 years 8
months) - CTC, Hampshire UK

Authored new 'Silver Plan' for the corporate centre and in conjunction with other unit leads, created a company document to cover all units and replace the individual unit versions. Analysed the requirements for training of the corporate centre 'Silver Team' as different from operational units, then designed and implemented a new and specific training programme for them, including two annual crisis management exercises. Implemented a Silver Team business continuity update schedule (quarterly) to ensure all members were fully up to date, continuously reviewing plans in light of company changes and maintaining the relationships required to ensure high performance in the event of the team being convened in a crisis scenario.

Manager Swanwick Training

NATS

Accountable for all operational training at the
Swanwick Centre (Area Control, Terminal Control, Controller, Assistant,
Instructor and Examiner). Line management of department instructional and
development team (35 Project Specialists & management team). Line
management of trainees (approx 80 per annum). Line management of simulation
teams (70 Aircraft Position Operators and management team). Ensuring
maintenance of training standards across operational watches and
disciplines through Training Manager Team (10 ATCO Managers). Development
and Delivery of operational training lesson and practical exercise material
to meet business and regulatory requirements. Development of training
packages for airspace, equipment and procedure changes. Development of
business plan objectives and key performance indicators - delivery required
against each on time and to budget. Management of circa £3M
department budget.

2002 - 2006

Head of Training Delivery, NATS UK College of ATC

NATS

July 2005 - April 2006 (10 months)
- Hurn, Dorset UK

Accountability for delivery of all ATC (UK and
international) management and competency training courses. Accountable for
delivery within defined standards of ATC and safety management, to
regulatory requirements and to achieve the annual business target
requirements. Line management of delivery team managers. Deputise for Unit
GM when required covering Engineering, Airspace & Procedures
Development & Evaluation and Human Factors departments in addition to
ATC Training. Training Review, Disciplinary and Grievance Interview
completion and execution of final decisions. Management of appeals
processes where appropriate. Management in conjunction with HR of local
succession plan. Management of business continuity processes for ATC
College Training.

Aerodrome Team Manager, NATS UK College of ATC

NATS

April 2002 - July 2005 (3 years 4
months) - Hurn, Dorset UK

Accountable for delivery of two concurrently running
12 week Aerodrome training courses to achieve the Aerodrome rating.
Accountable for maintenance of standards and teaching materials for the
courses. Ensuring currency with regulation and real world practices for
each delivery. Line and pastoral management for all trainees on the courses
(approx 48 per quarter). Line management of instructor delivery team
(approx 30 instructors). Development of trainee enrolment processes prior
to commencement at Hurn college. Deliver to specific annual training
targets against business requirements whilst adhering to all standards and
regulations. Operate within the college delivery team alongside 3 other
Team Managers to maintain standards across disciplines, behavioural and
professional competencies of instructors and deliver to business
requirements.

Deputy Watch Manager, Birmingham ATC

NATS

June 1998 - August 2000 (2 years 3
months) - Birmingham Airport, UK

Supervision of daily operation on behalf of Watch
Manager as required. Line management of Watch ATS Assistant team -
including personal, medical, performance and safety. Customer liaison.
Management of incidents, emergencies and investigations on behalf of Watch
Manager. Watch competency examiner - assessing coworking ATCOs for minimum
levels of operational competence on both a continual and annual basis.
Watch Training Manager - ensuring the provision of excellent training to
all trainees working with the watch; planning and delivery of assessments
at the appropriate intervals; adaptation of training process to take
account of the trainee's rate of progression wherever possible;
highlighting, discussing and addressing training issues with trainees and
instructors; recommending remedial training options or termination of
training when necessary and appropriate.

Air Traffic Control Officer (Aerodrome and Approach
Disciplines), Birmingham ATC

NATS

January 1992 - July 1998 (6 years 7
months) - Birmingham Airport, UK

Provision of an air traffic control service to
flights in to and out of Birmingham airport. Provision of air traffic
services outside of controlled airspace to flights operating within 40nm
radius of Birmingham airport. Participation in operational projects and
working groups to improve/ adapt procedures and processes in a continuously
changing environment.